Signaling device.



. FORTMANN.

SIGNALING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED DEG/.14. 1911.

Patented July 23 1912.

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Patented July 23, 1912.

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GUSTAVE FOBTMANN, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONEJH-Ailiril? T0 GEORGE W. COOK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

' Patented July 23, 1912.

tomobile, and contain a plurality of signals I which lights are under the control of the under the control of the chauffeur, who may electrically control the operation of any of the signals so as to indicate to those in the rear of the machine just what the chaulfeur isabout to do with his car.

vA. further object is to provide improve: nients of this character which consists of a plurality of transparencies covering separate. chambers illuminated by electriclights,

chauffeur .by reason of push buttons or switches located adjacent the chaufleurs seat, preferably though not essentially, upon the steering post or adjacent the steering wheel, and combine with such signaling de vice a license tag holder and a danger signal, the light illuminatingsaid danger signal and license tag being lighted at all times after dark, the otherlights being turned on.

and off by the chaufi'eur as he guides the'car.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the.

' of saidbox. This holder 16 has channel Fig. 2, 1s a controlling the several lights. Fig, 3, is'a view in cross section on the line 3-3 of front elevation and Fig. 5, is a the line 55 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4, is a viewin of my improved signal box, view in vertical section on Fig. 4.

1, represents my improved signal box which may be made of metal or other suit- 1 able material, and is preferably rectangular in form divided "by aseries of horizontal padlock 11.

in connection therewith.

ferred form in which a series of push partitions 2 into a plurality of chambers 3'.

on the outer ends of these partitions 2,

channel guides 4: are'secured, and channel guides 5jare secured by brackets 6'to the upper and lower ends respectively of said box, and these channel guides are adapted to receive transparencies 7. These transparencies are preferably of glass containing signals which are transparent, and readily observed by reason of the fact that the restof the glass is rendered practically opaque. These transparencies are secured in their guides by means of a, frame 8 which is connect'ed at one edge by hinges 9 with the box 1, and at its other edge is adapted to be secured in closed position by a hasp 10 and The frame 8 is of such a dimension and I thickness that it is positioned against the ends of all of the transparencies when said frame is in closed position, so that none of the transparencies can move except the frame be open, and to prevent rattling of the slides, suitable cushioning. strips 12 are positioned in the-channel guides f1.

Electric lamps 13 are located in the, several chambers 3, are secured to the back of the box 1, andare connected in an electric "circuit as will-be hereinafter explained. The lam-p 13 in the lower chamber 3 is provided with a'reflector 14 in the upperportion of the chamber so as to throw the light not only through the transparency, but also downwardly through an elongated opening 14' onto a license tag 15. This license tag 15 may be of an ordinary character, and 1s supported in a older 16 secured by brackets 1 7 'tothebottom of the box 1 at the-rear guides at-its top and bottom, and one end to receive and hold the license tag 15 and a thumb screw 18 is screwed into the holder at one end to prevent the license tag from moving out of the 'holder when once inserted thereih yet allow tagsto be changed as desired.

The box 1 is secured by brackets 19 or otherwise to the rear of an automobile illus suit the trade, those illustrated are most needed and are as follows: Stop-R indicates that the machine is going to move to the right and stop. StopL indicates that the machine is going to the left and stop. TurnR indicates that the machine is going to turn to the right, and Turn-L indicates that the machine is going to turn to the left. The bottom transparency containing the word Danger is of course-to be the ordinary danger signal required at the rear of every car, and the lamp for such signal will be lighted at all times after dark, and this lamp will serve the double purpose of illuminating the license tag 15 below, so that when my improved signaling device is attached to an automobile, no lamp such as ordinarily used is required for the back of the car. If one of the transparencies becomes broken, or for any reason it is desired to change them it is simply necessary to swing the frame 8 to open position, and withdraw any of the transparencies and insert others.

Various slight changes might be made in the'general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. An automobile signaling device, comprising a box adapted to be secured to the rear of an automobile, a series of horizontal partitions in said box dividing the same into a plurality of chambers, channel guides secured to said partitions and to the upper and lower ends of said box, transparencies of approximately the same length as the Width of the box mounted to slide in said channels, and a rectangular frame hinged at one side edge to said box and at its other side adapted to be removably locked to said box, said frame fitting against the side and end walls of the box and confining the ends of all of said transparencies and securing them in the channels, substantially as described.

2. An automobile signaling device, comprising a box adapted to be secured to the rear of an automobile, a series of horizontal partitions in said box dividing the same into a plurality of chambers, lights in said chambers, guides secured to said partitions and to the upper and lower ends of the box, transparencies of approximately the same length as the width of the box mounted to slide in the guides and shorter than the box, and a rectangular frame hinged at one side edge to the box and fitting against the side and end walls of the box and adapted to confine the ends of said transparencies, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAVE FORTMANN. lVitnesses:

Grocer. W. Coox, R. H. KRENKEL. 

